Club rugby gets under way this weekend with Taieri chasing their fourth title in five years. However, plenty of other sides will be out to deny the men from Peter Johnstone Park. The Otago Daily Times looks at the 10 teams in contention.
Taieri
Last year: Champions
Coach: Erik Vaafusuaga (first year) replaces Jason Macdonald, Hayden Finch (first year),
Squad
Forwards: Charlie O'Connell (captain), Aki Seiuli, Jarod Graham, Ethan Harrex, Karl Still, Josh Turnbull, Josh Larson, Alex van Leeuwan, Kurt Webster, Matt Davidson, Brodie Hume, Riley McDowall, Willis Scott, James Lentjes.
Backs: Michael Collins (vice captain), Will Cosgriff, Jack Stewart, Kurt Hammer, Josh Casey, Hayden Parker, Kori Rupene, Shannon Young, Christian Kelly, Glen Beadle, Tom Davie, Ben Miller, Connor Fifita.
Taieri has new coaches this year who are aiming for back-to-back titles.
After coaching the Taieri colts for three years, club stalwart Erik Vaafusuaga is stepping up to the job and will be assisted by Hayden Finch, who has helped coach Arrowtown in recent years.
Jason Macdonald has Otago rugby commitments.
Taieri peaked nicely last year and Vaafusuaga is not backing down from what the aim is this year - he wants the club to win the title again.
The team has a good core of experience but Vaafusuaga said with many players coming to the end of their study, the side had promoted players from the colts team.
Most of the familiar faces are there although Kieran Moffat has gone overseas and Kurt Schrader has moved on.
Forwards Mike McKee and Nick McLennen are expected back from playing in Scotland by the middle of the season. - Steve Hepburn
University A
Last year: finalist
Coach: Rahul Das (first year) replaces John Hyde, Shane Flanagan (assistant)
Squad
Forwards: Angus Cameron, Josh Dickson, Ed Elvin, Callum Hardie, Dillon Hunt, Emeka Ilogu, Dale Jarden, Jason Kingan, Jake Maiono, Sam Sturgess (captain), Sione Teu, Hamish Walker, Sam Wallace, Angus Williams, Jack Wolfreys.
Backs: Sam Aitken, Dan Crowley, Matt Faddes, Stephen Fenemor, Liam Fitzsimons, Fa'asiu Fuatai, Waiariki Koia, Sam McLachlan, Dylon Monopoli, Tom Murgatroyd, Kieran Parker, Fletcher Smith, Gavin Stark, Shae Tucker, Kaide Whiting.
University A looked to be peaking nicely last year but it all fell apart in the final when it lost heavily to Taieri.
John Hyde had stepped aside as coach, to be replaced by his assistant Rahul Das.
The fourth-year medical student has coached through the ranks at the club, and will team up with veteran Shane Flanagan, who is once again involved at premier rugby.
He coached University in 2009-10, when it last won a title.
Flanagan will use his wise head to coach the forwards and will look to add a bit of steel to the pack.
Das said the two were getting on well and it was a good mix of youth and experience.
The side has remained basically intact with the likes of No 8 Sione Teu, hooker and captain Sam Sturgess and inside backs Fletcher Smith and Stephen Fenemor set to have a big impact.
University will look to play its traditional style of moving the ball wide.
The major loss from last year is halfback Nick Annear, who has gone to Christchurch while veteran prop Tama Tuirirangi has headed offshore.
One interesting newcomer is Kaide Whiting, a halfback who has played for Tasman. - Steve Hepburn
Southern
Last year: Third
Coach: Colin Tuaine (2nd season) Dion Lobb (assistant)
Squad
Backs: Josh Walden, Paul Richardson, Ben Patston, Josh Ioane, Nathan Cargo, Byron Dodge, Sione Nisa, Josh Gordon, Bryce Hosie, Ben Mayer, Jonathon Hayes, Teihorangi Walden (captain), Ryan Tongia, Eroni Sotutu.
Forwards: Warren Moffat, Michael Mata'afa, Tom Scanlan, Cameron Keech, Ricky Riccitelli, Joseph Weatherall, Ryan Thompson (vice captain), Tim Ferguson, Alex Dalzell, Tom Franklin, Adam Knight, Daniel Baxter, Andrew Sanders, Mika Mafi, Ethan Perrett, Kyle Harris, Simon Knight, Josh Tye, Lafaele Faamoe.
Southern was upset in the semifinal last year and it has been seven years since the club won the premier title.
To rectify that perceived injustice, the club is looking within for the answers.
Teihorangi Walden has taken over the captaincy from his brother, Josh, and Southern has leaned heavily on its colts' programme for new blood with the likes of Cameron Keech, Joseph Weatherall and Alex Dalzell making the step up this year.
Highlanders winger Ryan Tongia has joined the side and is a useful addition.
Southern has depth in its outside backs. New Zealand sevens player Josh Gordon is a class finisher and Eroni Sotutu is also expected to have an impact.
Former Kaikorai loose forward Kyle Harris has transferred to Southern but is recovering from surgery and might not feature much at all, while rampaging loose forward TJ Ioane has gone to the Sale Sharks and halfback Frae Wilson has moved to Wellington. - Adrian Seconi
Dunedin
Last year: Fourth
Coach: Elgan O'Donnell (second year), Ed Baker (assistant)
Squad
Forwards: Alex Ainley, Alex Fitzgerald, Ayden Lloyd, Brendan Eathorne, Donald Brighouse, Elliot Adamson, Gareth Evans, Hame Toma, Mark Grieve-Dunn, Morgan Reedy, Nasoni Havea, Nathan O'Brien, Nick Peacock, Pofitu Fesili, Richard Thompson, Sam Anderson-Heather, Sean Smith, Tala Ulutui, Will Henry.
Backs: Callum Bruce, Daryl Caldwell, Giff Henry, Greg Dyer, Guy Woodhouse, Hugo Phillips, Jay Barrett, Liam Ward, Rowan McKenzie, Sam Weber, Tim Cossens, Tim Tolovae, Trent Renata, Tumua Ioane, Tyron Davies.
Dunedin's development pathway is in full swing with seven players from last year's championship-winning premier colts team making the step up to the senior team this year.
Coach Elgan O'Donnell said former colts Morgan Reedy, Jay Barrett, Nathan O'Brien, Pofitu Fesili, Tala Ulutui, Giff Henry and Guy Woodhouse had played ''really well'' during the pre-season and were ready to contribute from the first round on.
At the other end of the scale, the 2013 champion boasts plenty of experience with the return of former Highlanders and Chiefs midfielder Callum Bruce from Japan, and Otago players Donald Brighouse, Sam Anderson-Heather and Trent Renata.
Alex Fitzgerald's move from defending champion Taieri is also a boost to last year's fourth-placed side.
With Renata battling to make the Highlanders match-day team, he should be available to spark the backline in the fullback jersey for most of the year, something he did well last season.
While flanker Hugh Blake has left for Scotland, O'Donnell said the team was in ''reasonably good before Saturday's season-opener against Harbour. - Robert van Royen
Harbour
Last year: Fifth
Coach: Marty Hurring (second year), Hale T-Pole and Gareth Waldron (assistants)
Squad
Forwards: Solomon T-Pole, Seko T-Pole, James Tomkinson, Alex Hawira, James Piho, Nathan Seiuli, Charles Elton (co-captain), Sione Misiloi, Ben Whale, George Bower, Hale T-Pole, Hadleigh May, Ratu Dawai, Elli Tonga, Pete Mirrieless.
Backs: Reece Mau'u, Sio Tomkinson, Lisala Halaleva-Bugati, Iloa Lihau, Tala Fagasoaia, Joe Collins, Vinnie Isherwood, Ewan Brumwell, Sefo Muasika, Aleki Morris (co-captain), Logan Allen, Marckis Schaaf.
A year after missing out on place in the semifinals and finishing fifth, second-year coach Marty Hurring is confident this year's squad can go a step further this season.
There are no fewer than nine new players in the Hawks this year, including former Otago Boys' High School midfielder Sio TomkinsonTomkinson (18) played 64 straight games for the first XV in the past three seasons, scoring more than 450 points, which is believed to be a school record.
He was also a key player for the New Zealand schools team which beat Australia 34-24 last September.
However, Tomkinson is still recovering from a groin injury and ''probably'' will not be available until Harbour's second-round match against University.
''He's only just out of school. It's big step up. Some make it, some don't,'' Hurring said.
''He's probably a wee bit more special than most.
'' I think he will handle the transition pretty good.''
Among other newcomers are former Pirates hard-hitters Solomon and Seko T-Pole. - Robert van Royen
Kaikorai
Last year: Sixth
Coach: Andy Hunter (fourth year), Chris Smith and Ryan Martin (assistants)
Forwards: Lachie Landels, Alex Smith, Ash Dixon, Jonah Aiona, George Hendry, Sam Wyber, Nuu Vaeu, Josh Hohneck, Pete Sinamoni, Pete O'Malley, Willie Miller, Shane Calder, Johnny Appleby, Lee Allan, Nathan Hull, Jared Goodson.
Backs: Josh Renton, Thor Crombie, Matt Te Tana, Corey Miller, Logan Moore, Lachie Davidson, Mitchell Purvis, Hayden Wyber, Danny van der Voort, Matt Jones, Sam Cross, Rob Jordan, Chris Whitley, Tony Ensor, Sean Conner.
Kaikorai plans to run its way into the top four.
Coach Andy Hunter believes his side is fit and full of skilful ball players. And the club has picked up a couple of promising players from Otago' Boys High School, who should be able to assist in executing the fast-paced style it wants to play.
Impressive prop Jonah Aiona and elusive winger Matt Jones will make their senior debuts.
''[Jonah] is looking great and he is going to be an exciting prospect, I think,'' Hunter said.
''He's young and but raw but, boy, he's got some ambition.
''And Matt Jones is lightning quick ... and he is going to be great.''
On the other side of the ledger there is no Cameron Rutherford to knock over the goals and classy midfield back Jayden Spence has moved to France.
If Kaikorai has weakness, it is that it is a touch inexperienced. - Adrian Seconi
Zingari-Richmond
Last year: seventh
Coach: Andrew Melville (second year), Trevor Shanks (assistant)
Squad
Forwards: Alex Nicholson, Blair Tweed, Carwyn Jones, Chris Baughan, Chris Bell, Chris Preddy, Chris Shields, Ciaran Jansen, Colin Enright, Jahvard Sampson-Noble, Joe Gregory, Joe Latta (captain), Luke Van Gorp, Marcel Taani, Masiu Akavola, Reilly Leonard, Steven Roberts, Stu Young, Tom Cummins, Tom Rowe.
Backs: Alec Sanders, Campbell Musson, Chris McNoe, Christian Walker, David Dam, Inoke Naivalulevu, Jamie Brown, Lachie Moore, Nathan Tupae, Enoke Taufua, Shaun Driver, Stephen Scoles, Taylor Fiddes, Thomas Johnson.
The men from Montecillo want to continue to improve after a better showing last year.
The side won its last four games last year - including posting a half-century of points against Dunedin - and has suffered no major player losses.
Coach Andrew Melville has a big forward pack and will want to use its size to get on the front foot. Lock Blair Tweed has come over from Kaikorai.
Halfback Jamie Brown has moved from Harbour while Lachie Moore, who scored the most tries in club rugby last year, will again feature in the midfield.
Chris McNoe and Thomas Johnson are a couple of players fresh out of local schools worth keeping an eye on.
Highlander Willie Ripia played a big part for the side last year and his boot and vision will be missed. - Steve Hepburn
Alhambra-Union
Last year: Eighth
Coach: John Frood (first year), Mike Moeahu (assistant), replaces Marty Gray
Squad
Forwards: Tristan Fuli, Harley Iraia, Scott Manson, Michael Colville (captian), Ryan Dawson, Sean Boult, Michael Pattillo, Benjamin Tuiomanufili, Aaron Russell, Tom Frood, Max Aitkenhead, Finn Henry, Lance Barbarich, Ty Pelasio.
Backs: Caleb Gray, Thomas Barnsley, Sam Ellis, Peter Breen, Sevu Laqekoro, Peni Qauqau-Dodds, Henry Schikker, Tevita Inoke, Ratu Bishop, Noah Cooper, Tili Puloka, Allan Wheeler.
New coach John Frood reckons he knows where Alhambra-Union went wrong and he has a plan to turn it around.
He wants to see more grunt up front.
''I'm pretty happy with what I'm seeing so far. We've got a young sqaud but I think they've got potential,'' Frood said.
''I would love to make the top six. I'm hoping I've got a harder pack than in the past.
''I want to have a more physical and aggressive pack and they will be that - I guarantee that.''
Do that and the likes of winger Henry Schikker should be able to utilise his pace and provide some finishing touches for the team. Fullback Noah Cooper is another exciting talent and first five-eighth Peter Breen is a class player.
It will fall to the likes of prop Scott Manson and lock Michael Colville to set the tone up front. Lively hooker Ben Pereira has retired and fullback Corey McFadzean has returned to Wairarapa. - Adrian Seconi
Pirates
Last year: Ninth
Coach: Josh Clark (first year), replaces Daniel Johnson
Squad
Forwards: Hisa Sasagi, Hayden Fleury, Juan Bryan, Craig Millar (captain), Paul Miller, Jeff Evans-Turner, Damian Ludwig, Lucas Duley, Clark, Matt Emit, Jared Williams, Tim Lequeux, Hamish Boult, Motu Huch, Will Ward, Adrian Wa'a.
Backs: Ben West, Drew Divehall, Scott Emmerson, Craig Sneddon, Jo Bolten, George Wigley, Will Young, Kenton Leiataua, Adam Gavegan, Stephen Issacs, Will Scorgie, Dan Dam, Paul Tupai, Rory O'Brien, Sam Shuker, Dan Duke.
''We'll win more than last year,'' Pirates coach Josh Clark said.
That about sums up where the club is at this season. After a horror year in which team won just one game, the expectations are understandably modest.
''We're looking a bit stronger, especially with Craig Miller and Hisa Sasagi up front. And I'm back, so hopefully I can add something.''
The key will be winning the injury battle, Clark said. Pirates lack depth and to claw their way back up the table a couple of spots they will need fit bodies.
''We've got a good squad of 20-25 but if we suffer injuries like we did last year, we'll battle big time.''
Pirates will miss the hard-running No 8 Soloman T Pole but exciting midfield back Kenton Leiataua is expected to make an impact in his return to the club after a stint overseas, while lock Jared Williams is a much improved player. - Adrian Seconi
Green Island
Last year: 10th
Coach: Andrew Walsh (first year), Buxton Popoali'i (first year), replaces Motu Huch
Squad
Forwards: Sam Smith, Terry Gough, Hamish Finnie, Ben Lang, Matt Bradley, Jackson Hemopo, Mitchell Turner, Steven Bradley, Richard Te Nahu, Simon Tupu, Matt McCutcheon, Mike Quigley, Rick Campbell, Lausei Pritchard, Jamie Waller.
Backs: James Spooner, Sam Eripia, Devon Stapley, Hayden McBride, Jarrod Fahey, Matt Lobb, Shane McNoe, Fapene Popoalii, Brady Page, Ben Steele, Fraser Cox, Taylor Moeahu, Tino Elisara, Soane Amato, Baker Leota.
Green Island will be looking to bounce back from a forgettable year and has been working hard in the off-season.
The club has not sat on its hands and a good pool of players have been working hard since before Christmas.
Andrew ''Fridge'' Walsh and former Highlander Buxton Popoali'i have taken on the coaching reins and have not set any lofty goals other than being more competitive.
Walsh has been impressed with the attitude of the players and the side will not die wandering.
Green Island was not looking back but it was about rebuilding and the players just taking in as much information as possible, Walsh said.
Lock Jackson Hemopo has returned from Southern and will captain the side while the experience of Jamie Waller and James Spooner will be valuable. - Steve Hepburn
NB: Squads provided by the clubs.
